GATHERING, PACKING, AND DISTRIBUTING. 79 



aroused, prices rule accordingly. Therefore here, as in 

 all other things, honesty is the best policy. To grade the 

 fruit, empty the baskets out on the tables, or trays made 

 for the purpose, lined with thick felt to prevent bruising. 

 The sorter then, with the fruit in front, draws it forward 

 and passes the various sizes to right and left into the 

 different cases, putting into a separate basket any diseased 

 or inferior fruit. 



DISTRIBUTION. 



The mode adopted with regard to the marketing and 

 distribution of fruit must be determined by each grower 

 according to his individual position and circumstances, 

 the quantity and variety of the fruit grown, and the cha- 

 racter of and distance from market. The employment of 

 a fruit salesman as an agent in distribution is in many 

 cases needful, but the less you have to rely upon the 

 middleman the better. In all cases endeavour to make 

 your arrangements for the sale of the produce as soon as 

 you can estimate the crop, which can usually be done 

 many weeks before the time. Arrange, where prac- 

 ticable, for direct supply as far as possible. Growers 

 who have sufficient energy and perseverance to arrange 

 for a direct supply to hotels, restaurants, clubs, and even 

 some private houses, will in many cases find it advan- 

 tageous to do so. In this case the small boxes, baskets, 

 and crates as described previously may be employed, 

 and they may also be used to advantage in the case of 

 supplying retailers in small towns; and where this is 

 at all practicable, it is better to adopt such a plan than 

 trust to sending large quantities at all times to London. 

 As the result of concentrating such enormous consign- 

 ments to London in plentiful seasons, good fruit can fre- 



